“Xe” ran down to the lake and met with “xem”, and they had a picnic with goat-man… …

These are Jesus’ words to the Sadducees when they asked him about the resurrection. I’m not here to focus on the answer they give nor the specific citation Jesus quotes from the Tanakh. Nor am I concerned with why he brings this argument to the forefront. These are all important reflections to think hard about with regard to the exegesis of scripture and understanding how Jesus fundamentally destroyed his opponents’ questions. I really want to focus on this one phrase and the oddity of how much weight it gives for humanity today, specifically towards those who claim to follow Jesus and yet will not adhere to what he commands–John 14:15. This passage from Matt 23 (I thank Dr. James White for pointing this out time and again) is something that should compel any professing Christian’s mouth to become wide enough for a mac truck to drive through. Two questions come to mind: 1. When were these things written that Jesus said to read? 2. Were the people Jesus was speaking to present to hear God speak those things written to the ones present?

Obviously, to anyone familiar with this passage–or anyone who reads it and does even ancillary research–should get where I’m going with this. Jesus held these people, and by logic everyone else, accountable to the words written and spoken by God; Jesus clearly considered the words to be spoken by God himself, so think before you disregard. So what’s my point for writing this blurb?
The totalitarianism of the City of New York, and all those in favor of it.
This is the GENDER IDENTITY/GENDER EXPRESSION: LEGAL ENFORCEMENT GUIDANCE. The Washington post recently covered this topic again–this is not a new story–but the author has some interesting insights. Now, I’m all for protecting people from being mistreated, but giving someone a fine (totaling more than approx. 3 years salary in New York City) for essentially hurting someone’s feelings, is not what one would consider justified, by anyone claiming intelligence. And this is given by a government disposition.

I’m not here to argue Constitutional law, there are people much more qualified than I am for that. I’m here writing to you, the reader, to point out the only basis a Christian should possess for disobeying this ‘thought policing’.

Authority.

All this comes down to authority. This is not as arbitrary as a symbol of respect; calling someone who has earned a doctorate, “Dr. so-and-so” or a commanding officer “Captain so-and-so”. This is someone claiming an emotional, psychologically motivated title for themselves and demanding you not hurt their feelings. They’re not concerned about the authority of the one who created them in the first place. The one who blessed them with their genetically verifiable gender identity. They are claiming authority over themselves. This is blatant idolatry, for that is what displacing God’s authority is, put another way it is the de-goding of God.

Any christian who jumps behind this bandwagon is not aware of the significance of what they are trying to do. The people of God do not promote idolatry, they herald a message of repentance and Faith. Fighting for injustice is a good godly thing, when it is discriminatory to the point of physical harm. Fighting for ‘injustice’ to this level, about something akin to childish name calling, that is immature.

Christians are called to put away all speech that is hurtful and also to put away all malice, but not at the expense of idolatry. Calling a man, “he” or a woman, “she” (whether they ‘feel’ they aren’t or not) is not childish name calling. It’s calling a spade a spade.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

This needs to be changed, according to that logic,

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, however words will cost you your house, car, job, and anything else I can think of in the future.”

A society founded on causing someone emotional harm is not going to be successful (if one wants to take the pragmatic approach), basic history bares this out. And furthermore a society based on eliminating the God given gift of the advancement of the human imagers of God–male and female distinctions–is demanding God bring judgement upon it. This is what we are seeing today in the westernized world. And christians who back this are no different than ancient Israel cannibalizing their children during a siege. As Christians who are seeking to remain faithful and be over-comers we need to heed God’s call to Ezekiel in Ezek 2–3. We must speak with love (and also have intelligible argumentation), and call all people to repent of their rebelliousness towards the God of the universe. We must also never forget the impetus the apostle Paul gives to the people at Mars hill,

“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31.

I am disappointed this is the main talking point in our culture, when millions of children are dying every year without even taking a breath of fresh air outside their mothers’ womb. But this is the topic that has to be addressed in God’s providence, he has a purpose, that I’m sure of. If that purpose is to strengthen the church on marriage, gender, sexuality, and sexual purity, then he is wiser than I. May God bring repentance to the country of my birth, and a Church filled with resolve to his authoritative word via the Holy Spirit. Maranatha!

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